Self propelled earth compactor



1962 L. L. TINNIN 3,049,063

SELF PROPELLED EARTH COMPACTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1958 ATTORNEYS fifth 3,949,!)63 ELF PRGIPELLED EARTH CUMPAQTUR Lawrence IL. Tinnin, deceased, late of 2440 Harding Way, Stockton, Calif by Alice C. Tinnin, administratrix, Stockton, (Iniif.

Filed Feb. 28, 1958, Ser. N 718,310 2 Elairns. (Qt. 94--5ll) The invention relates to earth compacting equipment and, more particularly, to compactors which are self-propelled, as distinguished from equipment moved by a separate tractor.

While a number of self-propelled compactors have appeared in the art, considerably fewer, if any, have made their presence known in the market place. Perhaps one of the major reasons for this situation is the fact that despite numerous previous attempts to lend maneuverability to self-propelled compactors, only partial success in this direction has heretofore been attained.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a self-propelled earth compactor which is highly maneuverable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a compactor which can easily be moved from job to job owing to its close-coupled construction.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a compactor which is durable and long-lived.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a compactor in which the operator is situated at a vantage point enabling him closely to govern the proper operation of the device.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a Compactor which is relatively inexpensive to construct.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a compactor which is highly mobile and flexible in its operation since it does not depend upon an external power source.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improved self-propelled compactor.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan;

FIGURE 2 is a section showing a large compactor wheel in engagement with the ground, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section showing a large compactor wheel in inclined or elevated position, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

The eompactor, generally designated by the numeral 11, comprises a rectangular frame 12 including a pair of fore and aft bottom girders 13, a pair of fore and aft upper beams 14, a pair of transverse bottom girders 16 and a pair of transverse upper beams 17. Separating the interior of the frame into a pair of compartments disposed in mirror symmetry is a pair of lower transverse central girders 13 joined by a fore and aft off-set portion 19, and a pair of upper transverse beams 21 joined by a fore and aft offset portion 22, as appears most clearly in FIGURES 1 and 3.

Since the structure in each of the compartment pairs is substantially identical except for the reversed symmetry, a description of one will serve to describe the other. For convenience, the upper compartment designated by the numeral 31 in FIGURE 1, will be termed the forward compartment whereas the lower compartment in FIG- URE 1 will be called the after compartment 32. It is clearly to be understood, however, that the compactor can as readily be operated in a forward direction as in a rearward direction. Similarly, although an operators seat 33 is shown in FIGURE 1 as being located adjacent the forward one of the upper transverse beams 17, along with speed and hoist control levers 34, it is apparent that the operators control station could, with equal facility, be placed adjacent the other transverse beam, or near a fore and aft member, or centrally of the frame.

Referring, however, to the embodiment shown in FIG- URE l, the forward or upper compartment 31 is bounded on its left hand margin by a fore and aft bar 36 extending between the lower forward transverse girder 16 and the lower central transverse girder 18. The fore and aft bar 36 is spaced from the adjacent fore and aft girder l3 and within the space is disposed a wheel 41 mounted on a transverse shaft 42 journalled at one end in the girder 1% and at the other end in the bar 36. Mounted on the periphery of the wheel 41 is a plurality of earth compacting members l3 of, for example, the sheeps foot type, adapted to engage with and penetrate to some extent the underlying ground 44.

Located within the compartment 31 is a structure termed a sub-frame 51 comprising, as appears most clearly in FIGURE 1, a forward transverse girder 52, and a left hand rear transverse girder 53 joined to a right hand rear transverse girder 54 by a fore and aft off-set member 55. The left-hand margin of the sub-frame 51, as appears most clearly in FIGURE 1, includes a fore and aft girder 57 whereas the right hand margin is defined by a fore and aft girder 58. A central fore and aft partition girder 59 separates the compartment 31 into a lefthand section 61 and a right-hand or engine section 62.

Disposed Within the left-hand section 61 is a wheel 66 mounted on a transverse shaft 67 journalled adjacent one end in the fore and aft girder 57 and at the other end in the central fore and aft partition 59. Mounted on the wheel is a plurality of sheeps foot members 68 comparable to those found on the wheel 41. The wheel 66, however, is considerably longer than the wheel 41 and therefore is capable of compacting a greater area per unit of time.

The sub-frame 51 is horizontal in normal attitude, that is to say, in the position shown in FIGURE 2, with the sheeps feet 68 in ground-engaging location. In the horizontal attitude of the sub-frame 51 the shaft 42 of the smaller wheel 41 is substantially co-axial with and is, in effect, an extension of the shaft 67. A universal joint 71 is interposed between the shafts 42 and 67 to permit the shaft 67 to drive the shaft 41 regardless of angularity, within limits, of the two shafts.

The shaft 67, in turn, is driven by a prime-mover 76, such as an internal combustion engine, mounted on the sub-frame 51 and disposed within the right-hand section 62 of the sub-frame.

As appears most clearly in FIGURES l and 3, the sub-frame 51 is inclinable or tiltable as a unit, tilting occurring about a fore and aft horizontal axis defined by a pair of pins 81 secured to the main frame transverse girders l6 and 18, a pair of arms 82 projecting from the sub-frame being pivotally mounted on the pins 81.

Inclination of the sub-frame is effected by appropriate actuation of suitable elevating and lowering mechanism such as a hydraulically actuated cylinder structure 91 pivotally mounted at one end on the main frame and at the other end on the sub frame. The customary fluid conduits 92 and 93 are provided, and, in conjunction with the conventional fluid motor 94 driven by the primemover 76, enable the operator by appropriate manipulation of the control levers 34 to lift the sub-frame or to lower it by any desired amount. It is, of course, to be understood that any equivalent lifting and lowering structure, such as wire cables and pulleys, gears, chains and sprockets, or pneumatic device s, could be used in lieu of the hydraulic mechanism described.

In operation, it being desired to compact a straight stretch, the sub-frames are lowered to their horizontal attitude and the transmissions are operated so that the two prime-movers '76 drive their respective wheels 66 and 41. The rotation of the four wheels urges the compactor along its course and compaction of the earth underlying the wheels is effected. Although the embodiment shown in the drawing indicates a rather substantial gap between the various wheels it is to be recognized that the amounts of gap in an operating compactor are significantly less. In fact, an overlap, for example, between the adjacent pair of large wheels, would eliminate any gap therebetween.

Stability to the compactor is provided by the addition of a pair of casters 96, or corner wheels, located at the corners of the main frame distant from the small compactors 41.

Upon reaching the end of a compaction run, reversal of the direction of rotation of the wheels will return the machine over substantially the same path, should another pass be required.

Gradual turns are easily executed by adjusting the relative speeds of the engines. If, for example, the compactor were proceeding upwardly, as appears in FIGURE 1, and it is desired to turn the vehicle gradually toward the left, it is only necessary for the operator to adjust the two engine speeds so that the speed of the lower engine exceeds that of the upper by an amount suitable to negotiate the turn.

In the event sharp turns or turn-arounds are to be effected, one or both of the sub-frames are inclined upwardly, ordinarily to the attitude where the sheeps feet on the large rollers 66 are spaced from the ground, as appears in FIGURE 3. Even though the sub-frames are inclined, however, the shafts 67 continue to transmit torque through the universal joints 71 to the respective shafts 42. Consequently, the small wheels 41 remain powered and can be used to effect an extremely sharp turn. In fact, if one of the wheels 41 is rotated in one direction and the other in the opposite direction, a turning circle comparable to the width of the machine is realized. Upon reaching the new desired direction, the sub-frames are lowered to re-engage the ground and by impressing the suitable speed and direction of rotation on the wheels the compactor can proceed on its course. Skillful handling, by an operator, of engine speeds and direction and extent of lowering and raising of the subframes enables a highly efiective job to be performed.

It can therefore be seen that there is provided a selfcontained and self-propelled compactor which is not only highly mobile but which also is extremely flexible in its manner of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-propelled earth compactor comprising a substantially rectangular main frame including fore and aft girders and front and rear transverse girders, transverse girder members extending between the opposite sides of said main frame and dividing the interior of said main frame into a transversely extending forward compartment and a transversely extending rearward compartment, a first fixed bar extending parallel to but spaced from the adjacent fore and aft girder and between said front girder and said girder member, a first compaction wheel shaft rotatably mounted on said first bar and the adjacent fore and aft girder, a first compaction wheel fixed on said first shaft, a first movable framework in said forward compartment, means for pivotally connecting said first movable framework to said front transverse girder and to said transverse girder member for pivotal movement about a first horizontal longitudinal axis, means for pivoting said first movable framework between a first position coplanar with said main frame and a second position inclined thereto, a first compaction drum shaft rotatably mounted in said first movable framework, a first universal joint on said first horizontal longitudinal axis and connected to said first compaction wheel shaft and to said first compaction drum shaft, a

first compaction drum fixed on said first compaction drum shaft, a first prime mover mounted on said first movable framework, means for connecting said first prime mover to said first compaction drum shaft, a second fixed bar extending parallel to but spaced from the adjacent fore and aft girder and between said rear girder and said girder member, a second compaction wheel shaft rotatably mounted on said second bar and the adjacent fore and aft girder, a second compaction wheel fixed on said second shaft, a second movable framework in said rearward compartment, means for pivotally connecting said second movable framework to said rear transverse girder and to said transverse girder member for pivotal movement about a second horizontal longitudinal axis, means for pivoting said second movable framework between a first position coplanar with said main frame and a second position inclined thereto, a second compaction drum shaft rotatably mounted in said second movable framework, a second universal joint on said second horizontal longitudinal axis and connected to said second compaction wheel shaft and to said second compaction drum shaft, a second compaction drum fixed on said second compaction drum shaft, a second prime mover mounted on said second movable framework, means for connecting said second prime mover to said second compaction drum shaft, and means on said main frame for controlling said framework pivoting means.

2. A self-propelled earth compactor comprising a main frame in the shape of a hollow rectangle and adapted to be moved over the ground in a predetermined direction, a transversely extending forward subframe, means for mounting said forward sub-frame on and Within said main frame for pivotal movement about a first axis parallel to said direction and adjacent one side of said main frame, means interconnecting said main frame and said forward sub-frame for rotating said forward sub-frame about said first axis, a forward compactor drum, means for mounting said forward compactor drum on said forward sub-frame for rotation in contact with the ground about a second axis transverse to said direction, a forward compactor wheel, means for mounting said forward compactor wheel on said main frame between said one side of said main frame and said forward compactor drum, means for connecting said forward compactor Wheel to rotate in unison with said forward compactor drum, means on said forward sub-frame for rotating said forward compactor drum and said forward compactor wheel, a transversely extending rearward sub-frame, means for mounting said rearward sub-frame on and within said main frame for pivotal movement about a third axis parallel to said direction and adjacent the other side of said main frame, means interconnecting said main frame and said rearward sub-frame for rotating said rearward sub-frame about said third axis, a rearward compactor drum, means for mounting said rearward compactor drum on said rearward sub-frame for rotation in contact with the ground about a fourth axis transverse to said direction, a rearward compactor wheel, means for mounting said rearward compactor Wheel on said main frame between said other side of said main frame and said rearward compactor drum, means for connecting said rearward compactor wheel to rotate in unison with said rearward compactor drum, and means on said rearward sub-frame for rotating said rearward compactor drum and said rearward compactor wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 97,905 Glover Dec. 14, 1869 2,510,817 Greiner et al June 6, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,147 Germany June 11, 1951 

